Abbott to seek law to remove Texas sheriffs who dont help immigration officials

http://www.statesman.com/news/local/abbott-seek-law-remove-texas-sheriffs-who-don-help-immigration-officials/B3KdvqZqi8XclXg7VvKg9I/

(Article may be behind paywalled)

12:30 p.m. update: Congressman Lloyd Doggett has issued a statement calling Gov. Greg Abbott’s comments on Fox News unlawful demands.

Abbott said he would have Travis County Sheriff Sally Hernandez removed from office if Hernandez does not rescind a policy that would limit compliance with federal immigration authorities.

“Neither Gov. Abbott nor the Legislature have any authority to remove a duly elected sheriff, whose office is established by the Texas Constitution,” Doggett said in the statement. “The governor shows contempt for both the Texas Constitution and the Bill of Rights in the United States Constitution.”

Hernandez has refused several requests for comment since she announced a new policy that would greatly limit her staff’s compliance with federal requests to detain certain undocumented immigrants jailed in Travis County.

“Ours is not a ‘sanctuary’ city or county, but a refuge from anti-immigrant hysteria, with a strong commitment to effective law enforcement,” Doggett’s statement continued. “Gov. Abbott and his cronies have tried to remove me personally from office more than once; he will be equally unsuccessful trying to eliminate others who don’t fix his narrow Republican political mold.”

Abbott wants Texas sheriffs such as Hernandez to comply with so-called detainers from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which are requests to allow federal agents to further investigate whether a person who has been arrested and booked into jail is in the country legally.

State's Rights are important to Texas Republicans (City, County and Local Rights - Not So Much - hypocrites)